Saturday, September 25, 2010

Voters set to ponder legalized pot | CapeCodOnline.com

FALMOUTH — Possessing small amounts of marijuana has already been decriminalized, but could legalization be next?

The idea might not be so far out, man.

Voters in Falmouth precincts 1, 2, 5 and 6, as well as on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, will weigh in on a nonbinding ballot question in November regarding legislation that would allow the state to regulate and tax marijuana in the same fashion as alcohol, said attorney Steven Epstein, a founder of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition.

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But at least one local law enforcement official said Epstein is simply blowing smoke because the financial benefits are outweighed by the negative impacts on the community.

"Pot is not alcohol. It's not even close. Not even in the same league," Falmouth Police Chief Anthony Riello said. "You don't necessarily get drunk when you drink alcohol if you just have a little, but you smoke pot for one reason: to get high."

Chief Riello, you should have stopped with the first sentence. You're right pot is not alcohol. Alcohol actually kills many people! Alcohol is far more trouble than cannabis. "You smoke pot for one reason: to get high." I guess the Chief doesn't realize some people want to use it for food, medicine, clothing, vaporizing, etc...